Misty Magic

The Graduation

Celebrations were in full swing when Misty made an inconspicuous appearance into the dark oak-panelled hall, which had scrubbed up well for the graduation party. She surveyed the curiosities below and revelled in the sight. Guests were jostling for a place on the dance floor, piling their plates from a bountiful choice of foods from artfully designed tables that edged the room. Some swept fluorescent rainbow-coloured drinks from trays held by roaming servers, while others gulped from silver tankards. 

Misty was the oldest student in attendance. Just last week, she’d enjoyed an Italian meal at her Father’s restaurant to celebrate a quarter of a century and was given an ultimatum. Misty had been prepared for her Father’s words for years, but that did nothing to ease the punch to the gut with each word he whispered.

Bella, six extra years at college and still no skills! No more! Let’s face it, you’re no more skilled than the next person. This year you graduate and work in the family restaurant.

Misty hadn’t bothered to argue. Instead, she’d frowned, pouted and strutted into the garden, showing just how ready she was for the world of work.

It wasn’t as if Misty balked at the idea of work. She wasn’t a shirker. She was just made for more. She couldn’t explain what, she couldn’t explain why or how she knew. The mystic and magic were gifts given to every single Frost in the family. However, no matter what her thoughts were on the matter, it was becoming most embarrassing that she’d been overlooked. 

Misty slinked down the circular staircase and bobbed her head to the music that blared from the decks with the latest sounds from Alien Lingerers that had men rushing to the dance floor and head-banging to the beat, while the women looked on in disbelief. 

With a shake of her head, Misty bustled her way between groups of people, all here to celebrate the graduation of the next generation of supernatural and super-powered individuals who were determined to save their race.

“Lovely party, my dear,” an elderly woman said. She’d twisted her head two-hundred and seventy degrees to smile at Misty, who unintentionally stared at the bright red lipstick that stained her teeth.

Misty matched the woman’s disturbing smile with one of her own before nodding and joining a small group of people whose faces she barely recognised but made small talk with before slinking towards the door. 

A cool breeze caressed her skin when she crossed the threshold and stepped outside onto the decking. She left behind the music and muffled voices of party dwellers. As the door slammed shut, Misty looked to the heavens and studied the night’s sky in awe. She stood on tip-toes and reached towards the crescent moon with her fingers out-stretched. If she could detach the moon from its backdrop, pack it into her weekend bag and zip it away from prying eyes, she’d do it in a flash. The majesty of the moon gave her solace. She told herself; It was the peaceful home where her birth mother had lived when she could no longer walk in Misty’s world. 

Tomorrow was the first day of her new life, and her Father had eventually compromised with his daughter. She was allowed one week of grace to find a job go her liking before he ordered her server uniform. 

Music and voices intruded on nature’s silence, but quickly righted the night's peace as a door slammed back into place. Misty stayed focussed on the moon. The whisperers at her back were probably discussing her and whatever their thoughts, they were not her concern.

On a heavy breath, the first voice was melodic in its degradation. “I heard the graduation of Misty Clarity Frost was bogus and she’s a disappointment to the college.” 

A high-pitched snigger caught Misty’s attention and held her in place.

“Is that so? Well, that’s not what I heard.” Bushes to the left of Misty rustled as a subtle silence pursued.

“Well? What did you hear?”

“Oh, I don’t know if it is prudent for me to repeat what I overheard.”

“Spindles and skeletons, Blaze. The boys are spot on about you. You’re such a tease. Since when have you thought about prudence? Tell me now or so help me, I’ll spread a juicy rumour about you.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me. I’ll lace the rumour with just enough truth to make it believable.” A light laughter sprinkled the air. A melodic promise.

Misty let out the breath she’d been holding through most of their conversation and fiddled with the fingers of the stupid satin gloves her father had insisted she wear to the party. A party he hadn’t bothered to grace with his presence.

“Come on, spill. You know you want to.” 

“You’re such a pain in the tush, Ziggy. If you tell anyone, I’ll deny I said anything.” Blaze waited. When Ziggy nodded and bent her head closer, she continued, “they have sold Misty to a scientific facility, where she will be tested and tortured to identify her skills.”

Ziggy’s wide mouth mimicked the shape of her oval eyes, and for once she appeared speechless.

“Satisfied?”

For a second, they both remained silent until Ziggy roared with laughter. “Hahaha! You nearly had me there. That’s just not going to happen. Can you imagine the fallout if the Unspirited gets a whiff of what really happens at Kingston College.”

Misty clapped her gloved hands together and both the girls turned her way with a half-hearted sense of surprise etched on their faces.

“Bravo ladies. You deserve an award for your determination to cheer up a failure .” 

Before Misty could open her mouth to continue, she was wrapped in the arms of her friends and struggling for breath.

“Blaze, you’re squeezing too tight.” Ziggy said, loosening her on hold on Misty.

Blaze pulled back as if something had stung her, and Misty sunk to the ground. “Oh no, I’ve done it again.” She knelt next to Misty and tapped her crimson cheek. A spiteful handprint appeared instantaneously and Ziggy wriggled herself between the two girls.

“Bats and bagpipes, Blaze. Are you a walking death sentence? How many times were you told by the professor. Until you are a mature vampire, keep your hands to yourself.”

Blaze hung her head, this spurting of power part of the transformation stunk. A tear sat on her eyelash and she wiped it with the back of her black glove, knowing that the blood tinted mess would be unnoticeable.

Ziggy enveloped her friend in a hug. “I’ve got this.” Hairs sprouted on her palm until they covered it in a patch of hazelnut fur. She edged nearer to Misty’s motionless body and stroked her cheek like a mother strokes her baby.

“There,” she said. “You just need a gentle touch.”

Bright light seeped into her vision as Misty cracked her eyes open. She smiled at the sight of her two friends. The fairy lights from the tree behind gave them the illusion of wearing halos. She lifted herself up onto her elbows and studied their faces.

“Did one of you try to kill me again?”

Ziggy hid her furry palm under her shawl and Blaze backed away until she lost her halo, but neither said a word.

“Look, it doesn’t matter. I know it’s not personal. Just tell—”

“It was me, alright.” Blaze glared at Misty, her pupils contracting a dirty shade of ruby. “This spurting of power’s a curse.”

“You’ll learn to control it, Blaze.” Ziggy said, resting her furry palm on her arm. “And once you have, it will be like brushing your teeth.”

Blaze frowned at Ziggy, then covered her mouth with her hand as a fang appeared without her permission.

Ziggy burst out laughing. “If you think about it, we can do some cool tricks already.” She lifted her palm for them all to see. “Just think how delicious we’ll be once we’ve mastered our powers.”

Misty rose from the ground and wiped invisible dirt from her dress. 

“I don’t know why you two are always complaining. At least your powers have emerged.”

“We’ve had this conversation a hundred times, Misty. Yours will reveal itself when it’s ready.” Blaze’s face blotched like a spider’s web doused in blood.

“Don’t start spouting trash and go into spoilt brat mode. The Universe has a special plan for you, you’ve just got to work out what.”

Misty, hands on hips, stared at Ziggy. “You know, Zig, it doesn’t make this any more exciting when you call it a plan. And, the ‘Universe’ has nothing to do with me being talentless.”

“Now you’re being blasphemous and selfish. Don’t you think we’d love this opportunity you’ve been given? You are starting an adventure.”

Misty stamped her foot and turned from Ziggy towards Blaze. “I suppose you feel the same, do you?”

Misty watched Blaze struggle to soften her features. “All I know is we’re best to agree to disagree. We’ll regret damaging our friendship over a stupid disagreement.”

“You’re right.” Ziggy said, and held out her hand, which Misty took and gave a gentle squeeze, stroking the splattering of velvet soft hair on her friend’s palm.

A boom of laughter echoed in the silence. “Girls, always squabbling about something and in the next breath they’re best friends again, isn’t that right, Seth?”

Misty gasped at the sound of the giant on a man, so light on his feet, he’d startled her so easily. The tall, beautiful angel who stood next to him bowed his head and murmured his indifference.

“Why are you here, Lennox?” She asked, although she instinctively knew the answer.

Ziggy stepped forward, circling Lennox. “I can answer that, Misty. Lennox here wants us to watch him strut his stuff. Show us what a big scary wolf he is and have us fall at his feet. I mean, scuttling scallywags, can’t you just smell his masculine stench?”

“The wannabes are still playing games, I see.” The tiresome drawl of a stunning brunette caught the attention of the group. The newcomer continued to entrance them with her hypnotic tone. “We’re here for Frost, and no other reason. May I remind you that although I have all the time in the world, most of you are not so fortunate. Just secure the Mundane and we’ll be on our way.” 

Wedged between her friends, Misty wriggled from the grasp of the angel, but was less fortunate in escaping the werewolf.

“That’s enough, Una. Call your oafs off.”

The vampire tapped the tip of her immaculately manicured fingernail on a bottom fang, then raised her arms to the sky. “So dramatic for a nobody, aren’t we, little Miss Freak? Now stop behaving like a brat and prepare to serve your type.”

The tree lights flickered in the aftermath of Una’s hiss. The angel, Seth, perched on the top of the tree flapped his wings in anticipation and Misty glanced at each of her friends, it was the only time she had known them to be silent and a hatred for their lack of fight niggled its way into her thoughts. She was alone and always had been. This was her future, dull, dutiful, and unfulfilled.

“Your bag.” Blaze shouted, as Una marched towards the back entrance of the college. Blaze whipped forward and placed the velvet drawstring of a bag Misty did not recognise around her neck. “Don’t forget your bag. It’s important to keep it near.”

Misty held back a cry when her bones crunched together under the squeeze of her friend’s hand.

Lennox shouldered her towards the door in the wall, which Una had just disappeared through, and handed Misty a parchment wrapped in a deep blue ribbon. 

“Your certificate.” He said, not meeting her eyes. “Professor Tarknickle wanted you to receive a recognition for your attempts at skill mastering. Although you should have been overlooked.” 

 With a flip of his hand and one last push forwards, Misty jolted onto the pavement of the street that ran parallel with Milton Street and her family home. She used the wall to steady herself as she rose to her feet and rubbed debris from her clothes while ignoring the glances of passersby. 

With the disappointment of years of study ending in failure once again, Misty strolled towards 54, Milton Street, to face her well-meaning yet delusional family.